Portable trench.



1. PIETRUSZKIEWICZ.

PORTABLE TRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1910.

Patented Mar. 18,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

elk tam 109. *SAFES, BAA-MK Psmiwwm AND mmw DEM/WES J. PIETRUSZKIEWICZ.

' PORTABLE TRENCH.

7 APPLICATION HLED NOV-12'. ms.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSL-SHEET 2.

JAN PIETRUSZKIEWICZ, 0F KULPMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE TRENGI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed November 12, 1918. Serial No. 262,220.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAN PmTRUszKIEwIoz, a citizen of Russia, residing at Kulpmont, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Trenches, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a trench device or shelter adapted to be readily carried by a soldier and set up for instant use wherever desired, the structure being bulletproof affording ready means for firing upon the enemy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bulletproof inclosure, compactly foldable for purposes of transportation ready for setting upwhen unfolded for protecting the soldier against the rifle fire of the enemy as well as flying missiles of all description.

The invention accomplishing these objects will be hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the same and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof illustrating the sides partially closedby dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the invention in its folded arrangement, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the folded trench.

My invention broadly consists of opposite side members or walls 10 and 11 hinged together at their forward ends for positioning in V-shaped arrangementwhen open and having a roof or top consisting of two substantially V-shaped sections 12 and 13 hingedly connected together and to the side walls 10 and 11 respectively.

The walls 10 and 11 as well as the top sections 12 and- 13' are formed of bullet-proof sheet material such as armor plates. The side wall 10 has an angular extension or portion 14 at its fonward end to which the forward end of the side wall 11 is connected by means of an elongated hinge 15, so that the walls 10 and 11 may be spread apart in V- shaped formation as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and folded substantially together as shown by dotted lines in said figure.

The roof sections 12 and 13 are connected together substantially centrally by a hinge 16, the said sections being connected at the outer edges to the sides 10 and 11 by means of similar hinges 17. It will be seen that the top sections 12 and 13 may be depressed between the sides 10 and 11 upon folding the trench upon its said hinges into compact arrangement as best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Springs 18 are pivoted as at 19 to the inner faces of the sides 10 and 11 for swinging upwardly into contact with the top sections 12 and 18 when the trench is set up for use as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the said springs serving to maintain the trench unfolded, it being also noted that the sections 12 and 13 are arcuate in cross section whereby the top of the trench is suitably arched for shedding missiles hitting the same.

Port holes 20 are provided adjacent the forward end of the trench through the side wall 10 and its extension 14, whereby a soldier within the trench may readily fire upon the enemy. Pointed feet 21 upon the lower edges of the side walls 10 and 11 may rest upon or project into the ground (when the device is set up for use. When the trench] is folded, the springs 18 will be swung inwardly engaging the sections 12 and 13* giving the sides 10 and 11 a tendency to spring apart, which will retain a swinging hook or latch 22 into engagement with the side wall 11, itbeingunderstood that said latch is pivoted as at 23 to the wall 10. A loop 24 is carried by the side 10 and a similar loop 25 by the latch 22 by means of which the trench may be secured upon the back of a soldier for carrying from place to place when the trench is folded as shown in Fig. 6. Inwardly projecting upper edges or flange portions 26 are provided upon the sides 10 and 11 overlying the top sections 12 and 13 flatly contacting the same and forming a tight joint between the roof and sides when the trench is set up for use. The soldier carrying the trench when folded may readily open and set up the trench and upon entering the same may fire upon the enemy through the ports 20 without danger of injury from flying missiles.

What I claim asnew is l. A trench comprising side walls hingedly connected together adjacent'their forward ends having inwardly extending top flanges, top sections hinged together and to said side walls, arranged in dome-shaped form between said walls when the trench is set up for use with said 'flanges overlying the marginal portions of said sections in close contact therewith and retaining springs pivoted to the side walls contacting interiorly of said top sections when the trench is unfolded.

2. A trench comprising a side wall having an angular extension at its forward end, the said wall and extension having firing ports, a companion side wall hinged to said extension with the walls positioned in substan tially V shaped form when arranged for use, a substantially triangular top section hinged adjacent the upper edge of each of said walls and hingedly connected together arranged in arched formation between said walls when the trench is unfolded and springs hinged interiorly to said side walls resiliently engage beneath the top sections.

. 3. A trench'comprising a side wall having an angular extension at its forward end, the

said wall and extension having firing ports, a companion side wall hinged to said extension with the walls positioned in substantially V-shaped form when arranged for use, a substantially triangular top section hinged adjacent the upper edge of each of said walls and hingedly connected together arranged in arched formation between said walls when the trench is unfolded, springs hinged interiorly to said side walls resiliently engage beneath the top sections, inwardly projecting flanges upon the upper edges of said side walls in overlapping contact with the top sections when the trench is set up for use, pointed feet for the trench at the lower edges of the side walls, a retaining latch for the trench when folded and supporting means carried by said latch and one of said side walls.

4. A trench comprising side walls hingedly connected together, a roof formed of two sections hinged together and hinged to said side walls, springs pivoted to the inner faces of the side Walls, adapted for engaging beneath the roof sections when the trench is'set up for use and further adapted for exerting an outward swinging tendency to the side walls when the trench is folded and alatch carried by one side wall adapted for hooking over the other wall when the trench isfolded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J AN PIETRUSZKIEVVICZ.

Copies of thiscpatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

